The UK’s Artios has linked up with Merck KGaA in a potentially multi-billion dollar deal to collaborate on discovering and developing up to eight oncology drug targets associated with DNA damage response processes, and is also progressing its own lead compounds through its pipeline.

The US FDA expanded the use of FoundationOne Liquid CDx as a companion diagnostic for certain prostate cancer patients eligible for treatment with olaparib.

The company paid twice Immunomedics’ last closing stock price to access Trodelvy, approved for triple-negative breast cancer with potential in other solid tumors as monotherapy and in combinations.

Lilly’s diabetes and oncology franchises epitomize the effects of the pandemic on pharmaceutical sales. For much smaller companies, these effects were magnified.